Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Lok Satta Party today wanted the State Government to focus its attention on launching the second phase of the MMTS and introducing the BRTS wherever it is feasible.

Talking to the media, party spokespersons Katari Srinivasa Rao and V. Laxman Balaji said that the Government appeared to be determined to take up the Metro Rail system following the cancellation of its agreement with the Maytas consortium. It might take several months for the project to be grounded and several years for its execution. They suggested that a survey be conducted again on the land proposed for acquisition for the Metro Rail, which had been finalized in the teeth of opposition from civic organizations and some experts.

Meanwhile, the Government should come to the rescue of commuters by prodding the railways to take up the MMTS second phase. More services should be operated on the existing routes. They also suggested that the roads be widened wherever feasible and the BRTS introduced.

The Lok Satta leaders pointed out that Hyderabad has a wide railway network around it and that the city’s traffic woes can be mitigated if the railway network is linked with the bus transportation system. Hyderabad has 160 km of railway lines comprising120 km in the main corridors and 40 km in bypass lines. MMTS Phase 1 covers 48 km of this network. MMTS Phase II should be taken up to cover the entire city and link it up with the main arterial roads and the Outer Ring Road.

The State RTC should avail of the funds under the JNNURM to acquire additional buses and run more services to cover all the nooks and corners of Greater Hyderabad and increase the frequency of services on all existing routes.